Muddle Diplomacy

Barack's strategy thusfar? Disposing of liberal expectations early so that he can ignore them from now on, perhaps? More overseas abortions, pretending to close Gitmo, pretending to end the war in Iraq, pretending to get lobbyists out of government - all of it points to Barack doing the "liberal hustle."Does today's bizarre bit of news fit that theory?

President Barack Obama on Tuesday chose an Arabic satellite TV network for his first formal television interview as president, delivering a message to the Muslim world that "Americans are not your enemy."

I suppose it is consistent. Otherwise, why do it now? Why not wait a few months, give some interviews elsewhere first. Why so much emphasis on Muslims by doing his first interview with an Arab outlet?

The interview underscored Obama's commitment to repair relations with the Muslim world that have suffered under the previous administration.

Which Muslim country, in particular, do we have unreasonably poor relations with, I wonder?

"My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy," Obama told the Saudi-owned, Dubai-based Al-Arabiyanews channel.

Perhaps we have to worry about the President's sanity. Is it possible that he's hopelessly naive, the second coming not of the Savior, but of Jimmy Carter?

Hamas can be trusted, former US President Jimmy Carter said Monday, in an interview on NBC's 'Today' show. Carter spoke with NBC's Meredith Vieira about his perspective on the Middle East conflict, and his new book, "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land."

Perhaps they've planned a one-two punch of Muddle Diplomacy.

In his interview, Carter explained the rationale behind his book, saying "I am writing another book about the Middle East because the new president of the United States is facing a major opportunity — and responsibility — to lead in ending conflict between Israel and its neighbors. The time is now. Peace is possible."

Carter sets the pick, Obama takes it to the hole.

Sunday, Carter met with President Barack Obama's new US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell. While Carter is not certain Obama should speak directly with Hamas, he believes that Mitchell should, explaining that "there won't be peace in the Middle East without Hamas involvement."